Messages

16

Health / Re: Aging well

« on: October 30, 2013, 04:03:00 PM »

I'll be here for a while. Just got back from having two catheters inserted through my arm to my heart for injections of chemo and blood transfusions that start tomorrow. They wanted to start these today, but I need time to let this all sink in. My immune system is already very low, and they have to kill it entirely to allow a new immune system to start over again. In other words, kill all the bad white and red  blood cells, and hope that enough good cells survive to take root. It's a very complicated process.

Two catheters? I thought one was for beer and one for wine. 

17

Health / Re: Aging well

« on: October 30, 2013, 03:56:55 PM »

Boom Boom, you are a shameless flirt  I'm starting to wonder whether your meals are especially good on account of extra TLC.

18

Health / Re: Aging well

« on: October 29, 2013, 07:32:57 PM »

All I can see from my window are other buildings - but there's a nice view of trees changing colour at the end of the ward.

All this good food - I'm using the stationary bike three times a day, 20 minutes each, to keep it off. One of the nurses said to me today: "You're looking good".
 
*blush*

19

Health / Re: Aging well

« on: October 29, 2013, 07:13:36 PM »

I don't know if this is what lagatta was referring to, but it's good news in Quebec.
 
By next March, all hospitals in the province are supposed to meet new Ministry of Health standards for nutritious food. Some hospitals are ahead of the curve in implementing these changes.
 
 

20

Health / Re: Aging well

« on: October 29, 2013, 06:08:56 PM »

I know you are all getting tired of this, but here goes: supper was Fettucine Alfredo with ham, absolutely delicious. I'm sure you'll all starting a line at your local  Clinic begging to be admitted to this hospital by now. 

21

Health / Re: Aging well

« on: October 29, 2013, 04:00:46 PM »

A page from the hospital where I am a patient that deals with the forum topic:

Centre hospitalier affilié universitaire de Québec:  Aging

 The activities of the Aging fall into 5 principal areas of research :
 

Area 1	Alzheimer's disease and other dementia
Area 2	Long-term care practices
Area 3	Organisation and evaluation services for the elderly
Area 4	Motor function, balance and aging
Area 5	Vision and aging

22

Health / Re: Aging well

« on: October 29, 2013, 02:09:28 PM »

I think I made someone's day today - I told the nurse I'd rather stay here than go home.   

23

Health / Re: Aging well

« on: October 29, 2013, 12:52:46 PM »

Lunch:  merlu meunière (hake fillet?)  with lemon and garlic mashed potatoes, carrots, diced pears. I feel spoiled. :)
 
Heart ultrasound an hour ago showed that my heart continues to beat - good news! :D
 
I have a good heart, but I think you all knew that. :)

24

Health / Re: Aging well

« on: October 29, 2013, 08:37:42 AM »

Well, I doubt you are much older than I am.  I remember the 1950s hospital institutional food well. This is a  research hospital affiliated with the University de Quebec/Laval with 188 researchers on staff. The hospital dietician is a highly educated young woman with no doubt high standards for food.

Drat - I'm not making any medical history. The results of two biopsies are simply going to be compared at McGill.
 
ETA: CT scan showed everything is normal and in the right place.

ETA: Chemo can help my immune system recover, but first it has to make it worse, and then develop all over again.

25

Health / Re: Aging well

« on: October 28, 2013, 09:50:10 PM »

Good idea. although I get a fresh apple and orange every day, and fruit as well as veggies are included in most cooked meals so far sine Sunday - with the exception of that pasta dish - but there was a fruit salad on the side.

26

Health / Re: Aging well

« on: October 28, 2013, 07:31:50 PM »

Chicken and rice curry tonight!  Best hospital food ever.

27

Health / Re: Aging well

« on: October 28, 2013, 10:22:42 AM »

I'm still at the hospital ("Baby Infant Jesus Vampire Hospital")  in Quebec City. Will be here for a while. Had a CT scan an hour ago. Expecting my second bone marrow biopsy soon.

It's cold here, but we're expecting a warm spell mid-week.

I'm alone here, don't know anyone at the hospital at all, can't do verbal French, and am still waiting for visitors to bring banned contraband. 

28

Health / Re: Aging well

« on: October 27, 2013, 11:42:51 PM »

Day Three about to start. Anyone interested?   

29

Perpetual Threads / Re: Memorials

« on: October 27, 2013, 05:38:19 PM »

Lou Reed death hoax spreads on Facebook   

 
ETA: Okay, I got suckered in. MediaMass is a joke site. 

30

Health / Re: Aging well

« on: October 27, 2013, 05:32:44 PM »

That is great news. Perhaps that is why they keep their patients in isolation - I can't imagine Québec City residents standing for such shitty "food".

Exactly. This is Quebec, after all. But as the dietician explained, the standard menu ("shitty food") is served only until she meets with the patient and negotiates their likes and dislikes. I can't eat mushrooms and most shellfish, for example. I specifically said I can't eat lobster, and she laughed - and said there's not much chance I'll be served lobster in the hospital!